I understand that Wyze has decided to remove the ability to connect to unsecured wireless networks due to security concerns. While I personally realize the concerns around this, there are still use cases for this including guest networks (without a login page) and for testing. I’d like Wyze to consider adding this ability back in the future, but present a warning to the user, or even make it setting you have to turn on with the warning there, rather than completely removing the functionality.

Until Wyze changes their minds on this, there are a couple of workarounds that can be used if you want to keep your base home network unsecured but also provide a secure network for the Wyze. One is free and the other has a small hardware cost. I realize these may not be suitable in all cases.

Most wifi routers have the ability to have a separate guest network, often without password required. You could set this up with your existing SSID (so you don’t have to change any other devices) and also set up the primary network with WPA2 encryption.

You could use a travel router as an intermediary device that will connect to your unsecured home network and bridge that over to a secure network accessible by the Wyze Cams. Complete instructions for that are here:

Propagandhi, if you are using Android, you can download an older version of the APK (I’d recommend doing this on an alternate device) and it will let you set it up through that. Then you can manage the device from then on with the newer version.

Cant be connected to open wifi??? Why? Please change this.
I just got it in and was setting it up and cant get past the part where it asks for wifi password and called tech support and was told with out wifi password I could not set it up. Not very happy here, this should be in the advertising and I would have not bought it. Please notify me if there is a change in this policy.

So is this GL router wireless? Looks like it needs a rj45. I’m no computer wiz. I also understand that this is an odd request, why don’t I have a password… I’m sure your thinking. It’s a bar with open wifi for customers.

I can think of reasons (maybe not good reasons). One is just the little inconvenience of telling your guests the password and having them have to enter it. Another would be a public establishment where getting that info to the customers might be difficult.

You are all assuming that a “guest network” is at a small retail establishment. The guest network in my case was spread out over 100 locations, anywhere from a small office to a large multi-story building with many different departments (healthcare facilities). While it might seem trivial at a small establishment to share a password with your customers, sharing that password across many different locations can be a daunting task. Then, when you want to update that password for whatever reason (they used to have a guest network with a password), it’s impossible to get everyone to update their signage across those 100 locations. The only advantage you are gaining is encrypting the traffic in air, but honestly, what is that saving you if you are already on the network because there was a password clearly spelled out in signage? Encrypt your personal mobile device’s traffic if that is a concern.

I’m using MAC filtering instead of a wifi password. I have a whitelist of MAC addresses that I allow to connect to my network, anything that’s not listed can’t connect. Unfortunately because of this it’s not possible to create a wifi password. And because of that I can’t connect any new Wyze cams even though I have older ones working fine that were added before this password requirement nonsense. Very frustrating.

There are so many reasons to allow unsecured SSIDS. Please update the code to allow this, if necessary pop up a warning stating to the user “It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED you not connect to an unsecured network!”

Our company has an “Open WiFi network” and we use this on our WyzeCam’s. This is the only way to connect these devices, as our secured WiFi needs a certificate in order for any device to connect (iPhone or Android). This means with Wyze’s new feature, we can no longer install/control anymore cams (sad). I agree with everyone, show a splash-screen warning, then allow the cam setup to move forward.

In addition to people wanting to use it on public networks, I use MAC filtering on my home network. It’s much more secure than passwords, since I can easily de-provision devices without having to reconnect everyone. This policy means I have to reconfigure my network, reducing security, in order to connect the camera.

There’s also a philosophical concern. I don’t believe a company is in a position to declare to users how they have to use this and under what circumstances. If you’re concerned that people will use less secure setups, give them a popup dialog that explains it and ask for verification. Users deserve the freedom to make those decisions themselves. I’m not sure I’m comfortable keeping products from a company that would implement decisions like this in an update with no proper documentation (especially on the product pages, as this would have changed my decision to buy it).